Friday, July 5, 2013

Johannesburg – Then and Now

A few weeks ago, I did a photoblog of Cape Town as it looked back-in-the-day and as we see it now. (check out: Photoblog: Cape Town – then and now)[1].
Some readers asked me to do one of Johannesburg. At first I was a bit
hesitant as I thought it would be a bit dull and boring. However I was
knocked off my feet by the history Johannesburg[2]
hides beneath her steely facade of imposing apartment blocks,
unsympathetic offices and colossal hotels. Now I can’t wait to visit
there again to explore some of her past. Here are some images of
Johannesburg then and modern Jozi as we know it now.

Doornfontein
which was formed in the 1880s is the oldest residential suburb of
Johannesburg by 1897 it was known as "Millionaire's Row" due to the
developments in the area by mining tycoon Barney Barnato. Over the years
Doornfontein was forsaken for the popular Parktown and was overrun with
slum and industrial areas. Today the community theatre and arts centre,
which was built in 1896, is one of the only remaining family mansions.

The
Turffontein Horse Race Track was opened in 1887 and the races was a
feature of early city life in Johannesburg. The race-track still stands
today as one of South Africa's premium horse-racing venues.

This
open space was planned for the early Johannesburg CBD back in 1887.
From the day it opened in 1906 this green space in the city has offered a
respite from daily life in Joburg's hustle and bustle.

Johannesburg
built its first government building in 1888 on Rissik Street. This was
taken over by the post office and it still stands in the city today.
During its time as the post office, many postcards (such as this one)
with images depicting the building were sent out to loved ones.

The
old Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Johannesburg was open between 1895 and
1939 and it hosted 22 test matches during this time. Today it has been
replaced with the new Bidvest Wanderers Cricket Stadium which is an
iconic cricketing venue in South Africa.

In
1890 the gold industry was growing in South Africa, and the suburb of
Yeoville was formed. Mr Thomas Yeo Sherwell, who established the suburb,
heralded from the UK town of Yeovil. This popular up-market area
offered its residents spectacular views over the city. Today this
vibrant suburb is home to people from all over Africa and is undergoing
some major upgrading projects after its serious decline in the 1990s.

In
1890 on Braamfontein Farm, Edouard Lippert, built his historic
Johannesburg home in Parktown naming it Marienhof after his wife. The
farm was bought in 1916 and renamed Onder Kopjes but it was sadly
demolished in 1969 to build the freeway. Today ruins of this historic
house still line this busy Joburg road.